onsite or off, with 1 year old and 6 year old

[BevS97]

We are headed to Orlando from October 23 to November 6.

from October 31st its value season, and I am pretty sure we will stay onsite, (leaning towards Port Orleans)

but for the first week, I just can't decide

for the same money we could either stay at Pop Century or Hawthorn Suites (2 room suite) and for a little bit less we could stay at the Springhill Suites (1 room) at the marriott village.

Pop Century, right in the magic, disney transportation, more convenient location, small room, no fridge

Springhill Suites fridge/microwave, more space, nice location (Marriott Village), free breakfast

Hawthorn Suites Seperate bedroom for the kids, kitchenette, not so sure about the location (Palm Parkway), free breakfast

or to really throw a spanner in the works, we could get an apartment at Windsor Palms again - which would give us the best accomodation, and it was beautiful, but lacked something in atmosphere. It would be handy to have the laundry though.

Did I mention I was in a quandry????


Bearing in mind, we will have a 1 year old and a 6 year old with us, and will have a car either way - what would you suggest and why?

 

[F1Julie]

If you plan on doing Disney parks during that first week, I'd say stay on site. If you will be going to other Orlando attractions, stay off site. I think Value resorts get a bad rap. Yes, the rooms are smaller, but how much time do you spend in your rooom? You can't beat staying on site for the transportation alone. And with 2 children, having a food court is great.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I would rather stay at the Value resorts at Disney than the biggest, fanciest suite offsit. With small children IMHO it's so important to be able to return to the hotel in the afternoon for swim/nap/rest. Last year my kids were 21/2, 4 and 5 and those afternoon recharging rests were invaluable as we were able to do nightime parade, fireworks, Fantasmic etc. without tired, worn out kids. It's also nice to be able to use DIsney transportation, and not drive and you can also be able to use EMH if you stay onsite if that appeals to you.

 

[4greatboys]

I think it would good to rent points from a DVC member. You can get a studio which would have a little fridge and microwave in it or get a 1 bdrm and have a full kitchen and also a washer and dryer. You will be on property--easy to get back to room for rest. If your planning on renting a car you wont need to unless you plan on driving off site any.

 

[Epcotgal8]

I would stay onsite. I agree with those who said that staying onsite is important especially with little ones. That way you can take breaks when they (or you) get tired, go back to POP to swim or nap, and then return later. Yes, you can still do that if you stay offsite but you will be a lot less apt to. We stayed offsite one time and even though it was a really nice resort (Wyndham Palace), large room which even had a view of the fireworks in the distance, we still felt like "something" was missing. A food court (as mentioned) is also great with kids. I haven't been to Pop yet but a lot of food courts have microwaves in them, and even if you don't want to rent a fride, what we usually do is stop at the grocery store on the way to the resort and buy one or two cheap styrofoam coolers and fill the with ice and keep perishables in that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Originally posted by 4greatboys
I think it would good to rent points from a DVC member. You can get a studio which would have a little fridge and microwave in it or get a 1 bdrm and have a full kitchen and also a washer and dryer. You will be on property--easy to get back to room for rest. If your planning on renting a car you wont need to unless you plan on driving off site any.

Probably a little too late to rent points for this October with everything going on in October.

 

[lisa0477]

I see you guys have posted about DVC member points or something. I am new so please forgive me. What is this?

 

[Desnik]

I agree, if you could rent points from a DVC member! Or, stay on site at a value resort.
My cousin is a big exec for Interval Internation(one of the biggest time share com.)anyway, I could stay almost anywhere in Orlando(or anywhere else)in a 2, 3 bed room villa for about $200 for 14 days!!! We always just stay onsite! It just isn't the same for us. Now, when the kids are older and we start maybe going to Universal then I would definately take him up on the offers. We did once, and it was great but my DD was 8mo at the time and we really could've used the option to go back to the hotel in the afternoon.
Anyway, here are a couple of links describing DVC and renting points:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/dvc/renttrade-faq.htm
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resort/dvcpoint.cfm
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=29
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/dvc.htm

 

[BevS97]

I am looking into renting points, but as someone else has pointed out, October appears to be fully booked. (at least Studios)

I have someone phoning tomorrow to check on availability, so fingers crossed something appears.

bev

 

[Bexx]

I seem to have a slightly different take on this to everyone else, though it's a bit of case of "do as I say, not as I do", as I'm a DVC member and will being staying in a villa when I go!

When you say that you're not sure about the location of the Hawthorn Suites in Palm Parkway, do you mean you've seen it and don't particularly like it, or that you're not sure where it is?

http://www.orlando-lakebuenavista.com/map/lbvnorth/hwy535map1.htm#535hotelplaza

Hope this link works - as you can see it's fairly convenient for Disney if you've got the car. Normally I would say onsite, onsite, onsite. But if you've got a 1 year old, will you be planning to do commando touring? If so, then you only need the room at PC to crash at night. Otherwise I really do think that a place with a bit more space and facilities is the way to go.

Renting DVC points would give you the best of both worlds so I hope that works out for you.

 

[4greatboys]

Had you thought about a 1 bdrm?? Might be worth checking into. Last year our trip was in Oct but about 2 weeks out we ended up having to change our dates around some. I had no problem getting a 2 bdrm two weeks out, but I do know the studios go quick.

 

[KLAIT]

I am going to go against the grain here and vote for a week off-site, since you have a week on-site already planned.

We have done both..with small kids. The advantage we have found with staying off-site is there is less activity and it is easier to realx. We enjoy the extra room of a suite, and also of having a separate area for the kids to sleep so we don't all have to be quiet or sleep ourselves....

I absolutely love Disney, but with the smaller kids, we enjoyed staying off-site to "get away from" (gasp) the commotion and have less busy pools and common areas....plus, some of the off-site locations are as close as some on-site and maybe some are closer.

 

[Goofmeister]

There are other hotels beside Disney resorts?

 

[BevS97]

When you say that you're not sure about the location of the Hawthorn Suites in Palm Parkway, do you mean you've seen it and don't particularly like it, or that you're not sure where it is?

I mean I don't know where it is. We have passed the Marriott Village often, and I know exactly where that is, and am quite happy with the location, but I don't think we have passed Palm Parkway, so I can't visualise the hotel - are there facilities nearby? How close is it to Disney? etc etc - I have this fear that it is in a wilderness I am sure it's not, but if I had actually seen it I would feel more comfortable.

Bev

 

[Bexx]

Hi Bev. Have you managed to access the link? It tells you the various hotels which are down Palm Parkway and there is also a small group of (if memory serves) not particularly thrilling shops!

If you go down Hotel Plaza Blvd from DD (the Crossroads shopping centre is straight across that junction), turn left at the junction and then take the next right into Palm Parkway. So it's not very far at all as the crow flies, though I don't know how long it would take to drive to the Disney Parks as you would probably have to use the main entrances from I4 and not actually go down Hotel Plaza. But please don't quote me on this!

We stayed there 8 years ago at the Comfort Inn and used their shuttle. But we did walk round that area a bit and nothing is that far away even on foot. It seemed to be a pleasant, quiet enough area, if nothing particularly special. I would happily stay there again, if I hadn't got the onsite bug!

 

[BevS97]

I did look at the link, and looked at the website again, and while the 2nd room would be nice, we decided to book the Springhill Suites as the whole resort looked nicer, and we have often thought it looked a good place to stay in the past.

I am just trying to work out the best way to book Port Orleans for week 2 and we will be all sorted.
For some reason if I book it through the UK Walt Disney Travel Company, it is slightly cheaper, but the cancellation terms are terrible (you lose your deposit regardless of how early you cancel), and I can't tell if I would be able to apply AP rates if they should come out at a later date.
So, booked direct with CRO looks like the better option - but £100 is £100..... so I am deliberating. I know if I book the non-changeable UK option, then AP rates will come out and be MUCH lower than I have paid, but if I don't, then of course there will be no AP rates as it is so busy that week. And with the DVC studios all be sold out, I don't want to leave it too late and end up with no room at all.

Bev